French car-maker Renault will move its automotive apprentice
training program from Sydney to Melbourne, taking advantage of its new
state-of-the-art training centre.

The move from Sydney to Melbourne will create 26 new jobs and see over 200 automotive apprentices trained in Victoria over the next five years.

Known as the Renault Academy and based in Mulgrave (located 30 mins east of the city centre), the centre is the biggest electric vehicle (EV) workshop in Australia and the biggest in the southern hemisphere. The hi-tech centre will provide training opportunities for technicians that work
across Renault's 48-strong dealer network in Australia.

Renault is an international multi-brand group, selling more than 2.7 million vehicles in 125 countries in 2014, with 36 manufacturing sites, and employing more than 117,000 people.

The Victorian Government has worked closely with the company to facilitate the move, which will see Renault Australia double the size of its Mulgrave headquarters and partner with Victorian TAFE, the Kangan Institute, to deliver the training.

Victorian Minister for Industry, Lily D'Ambrosio said, "Renault's decision to move its apprentice training facility and headquarters from Sydney to Melbourne is a vote of confidence in our state's economy."

Renault Australia has also indicated a willingness to consider expanding its relationship with the Kangan Institute in coming years and draw on their extensive training resources at the Automotive Centre for Excellence in Docklands.

Minister for Skills and Training, Steve Herbert said, "More than 200 technicians will now be trained by Renault and Kangan over the next five years and those skills will set them up for careers as skilled automotive technicians."

Video: Announcement of New Jobs at Renault's Automotive Training Centre

When the Renault Academy was opened in June this year, Renault Australia managing director Justin Hocevar said the new facility represented "the next phase in what is an exciting time" for the French brand.

"Our new facility represents an exciting opportunity for us as it will give us the ability to enhance development of accessories for the local market, and further develop our already successful technical training program," he said.

Victoria's automotive manufacturing industry has a long and evolving history of innovation and collaboration. It is also Australia's leading centre of automotive research and development, partnering with many key education institutions and providers throughout Melbourne and surrounding regions.